Luciferians:
Alas! alas! where is our bliss departed?
Belzebub:
All goeth well: we gain increase.
In grief the Angels now assemble,
and in woe their heads they droop together.
What doth move you. Angel hosts,
with sighs and groans to mourn?
the bloom of happiness thus fade?
In peace all to possess that Spirit can wish from God,
the Giver—doth even this content you not?
Ye therefore stand in your own light.
And cherish mournfulness,
whose cause I can nor fathom nor discern.
Come, cease your groans,
Nor longer tear your standards and your robes without a cause;
but clear your clouded face
And darkened forehead with new radiance,
Your bitter moan doth mar
The rhythm of the celestial palace till
These vaults re-echo with your woe.
The wail of sorrow through the highest arches rolls.
From sphere to sphere:
Luciferians:
Chief Lord,
whose potent word unnumbered bands would call to arms,
thou comest most opportune
To soothe our misery and to prevent
By thy great power this threatened injury
And undeserved disgrace.
disgrace
Shall Gabriel
The sacred crown of the holy Angels place
On Adam's head: through Adam's son
and heir crush God's first-born?
'Twere better far had we
Not been made ere the splendor-dazzling sun
His chariot mounted and in Heaven shone.
The Godhead chose in vain the Spirits as guards
Of these immobile courts, if thus He shall.
Against their vested Rights, Himself oppose;
Who guiltless to resistance are provoked
By dire impatience
dire impatience and necessity.
Belzebub:
Methinks that thou art wrong. O King of Lords,
'Twere better to avert this.
Give no cause for mutiny or discord:
give no cause whereby Rebellion grows.
What remedy?
How reconcile you with the Majesty supreme?
Luciferians:
We were rejoicing here,
enraptured with the praise to God outpoured,
were bowing low in deep humility,
and worshipping 'Mid burning censers
with devotion flamed:
All-quivering with the rippling notes,
the Heavens, from choir to choir,
unto the sound gave ear—
Yea, melted slowly in delicious joy,
With song and harp enchanted—
when the trump Of Gabriel 'mid the rising harmony
Blew that decree,
and midst the glory fell
This sudden thunderbolt of night.
The youngest son was given The crown,
the sceptre, and the blessing,
While the eldest-born,
marked as a slave Remains.
That is the part obedience,
Devotion, love, and faithfulness receive From God's rich treasury,
that mourning brings;
That wrath enkindles, and thoughts of revenge,
Grown out of righteous hate,
Chief Lord, thou canst prevent our fall,
and by our charter yet preserve our Rights:
protect us by thy power.
We are prepared even now
To follow 'neath thy standard and command,
To be thy troops.
Lead on. 'Tis glorious
To battle for one's honor, crown, and Right.
Lead on.
Lead on. 'Tis glorious
To battle for one's honor, crown, and Right.
honor, crown, and Right.
Lead on. 'Tis glorious
To battle for one's honor, crown, and Right.
Lead on.
Lead on. 'Tis glorious
To battle for one's honor, crown, and Right.
honor, crown, and Right.
Chorus:
Be still! be still! thou art by Michael spied.